Baseball Splits With Central Methodist

The Westminster baseball team split with the Central Methodist Eagles Tuesday evening. The Westminster Blue Jays won game one 8-2 and fell in game two 7-5, snapping their four-game winning streak. The Blue Jays are now 6-2 for the season.

Senior Andy Pichler led off with a single, followed by a single by sophomore Deion Hughes and junior Tyler Branneky. Pichler scored on a passed ball, and De. Hughes and Ty. Branneky advanced to third and second, respectively. Senior Danton Hughes grounded out to second base, but scored De. Hughes on the play. Ty. Branneky was left on base, but the Blue Jays held the 2-0 lead heading into the second inning.

The Eagles opened up the second inning with a homerun. They scored once more before the Blue Jays ended the inning. Junior Cam Backes hit a triple in the bottom of the second to score freshman Tanner Branneky. Backes scored on a passed ball before the Blue Jays flew out to right field to end the inning.

Da. Hughes cracked a homerun in the third, bringing the Blue Jays up 5-2. The Blue Jays grabbed three security runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the 8-2 lead. Ty. Branneky hit a triple to score Backes and senior Jordan Allen, and Da. Hughes doubled to score Ty. Branneky.

Sophomore Will Miller (2-0) was credited as the winning pitcher. He pitched six innings and struck out four. Backes went 2-3 from the plate. Ty. Branneky, Da. Hughes and De. Hughes went 2-4 from the plate.

The Blue Jays opened up the second game with a Ty. Branneky homerun, bringing in senior Tim Chambliss.

The Eagles scored six runs over the next four innings, and the Blue Jays headed into the bottom of the fifth down 6-2.

Da. Hughes stepped up to the plate with one out and three on base. He hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Pichler. Ta. Branneky then hit a single to score Ty. Branneky and De. Hughes. A fly out to center field ended the fifth inning with the Blue Jays trailing by one, 6-5.

The Eagles added another run in the sixth inning. The Blue Jays were held from scoring again, ending the game with a 7-5 Blue Jay loss.

Ty. Branneky went 1-2 from the plate, finishing with a homerun and two RBI. Ta. Branneky went 1-1 from the plate and grabbed two RBI.

The Blue Jays will open their conference play at home this weekend with a three-game series versus Blackburn College. The doubleheader will take place on Saturday, March 22 starting at 1:00 p.m. They will round out the series on Sunday, March 23 with a 1:00 p.m. game.